The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-12-24
SOUND SUGGESTIONS.
Kind Words for GreenViIle.

lOok upon Ureenflue u pcniS Dun
var county city. 1t is only few miles
from the lower line of the county, and
it is freQuented as much by our citizens
from one-half the county as by the in
habitants of Washington county.
l have said the growth of Greenyille
is substantial, and believe it to be SO,
but it is undeniable as is frequently
urged by the TIMES that much yet
remains to be done to preserve and
perpetuate the prosperity of your
beautiful city. Factories must be
built, or ought to, of various kinds,
but upon this subject | will not en-
large, as there is scarcely number Of
your paper which does not more or
less urge it upon the people, and show
the advantages which Greenville has
over other cities in the state, unless it
be over Vicksburg, to which historic
city it must in time, if it be not al
ready, rival.
As Mississippian, taking pride in
his state, where | was born and have
always lived, hope the rivalry will
always be generous one, and while
each does Its best to maintain its own
supremacy each will remember that
there is enough for both in that part
Of the state and upon the bank of tho
great river where each is situated to
make them the greatest cities of the
state.
But the purpose of this letter is to
call the attention of the citizens Of
Greenville to an enterprise which is
within their reach at cost compare
lively small and which win do as much
if not more, to assist in the growth of
Greenville than anything else.
The matter has been talked about a
little, and some time ago promised
some citizens of Greenville to write a
letter upon the subject.
This promise | now fulfill.
Within twenty, or at most twenty
five miles of Greenville, there is nav
igable stream. which, to follow its
various windings, is nayigable for
from forty to fifty miles in the county
of Bolivar, in fact, eight miles directly
east of this place. 1t is the Bogue
Phalia, well known to most of youI
people, where the Georgia Pacific
crosses it, and as fishing place, but lit
tie if at all known in this county. Be
tween the point where the Georgia
Pacific crosses it, or some miles above
there is what is called the "Narrows.'
That is, in the course of ages, for some
five or six miles, the bayou. or the
river, has become filled up, and has
divided into several small bayous. Be.
tween the upper part of the Narrows
and the Forks of the Bogue," eight
miles east of this place, distance, as
have said, of forty or fifty miles tc
follow its meanderings, it will average
one hundred yards wide and ten feet
deep at the lowest water. | have
traversed it in a dug-out and in skifls
from the "Narrows to the "Forks.'
There are no distractions except trees
which have fallen from the banks OF
either side, except at one place, that
remember; there is a bar extending fol
q distance of not more than one hun
dred feet about half way across the
stream. Even at that place there was
water deep enough for small boat tC
pass near the east bank. In fact, since
the war small steamboats, have beer
run between the "Narrows" and th'
"Forks of the Bogue."
There was q little boat, built on thu
bank of the Bogue by Mr.. B.J. Martin
to run in connection with his railroad
from Riverton to the Bogue, but it die
not receive the encouragement his en-
terprise merited, and not having tn
capital himself it fell through. TIL,
other was a small steamboat, owned
by Capt. Lewis and which | first saw
in the Mississippi river at Riverton
and afterwards at Bogue Phalia. Il
the high water of 1873 or 1874, he tool
his boat to Sunhower river, up to tn
Boguc,and actually succeeded in gettinI
it through or over the Narrows,' th
whole county, or at least that part OF
being then overfowed.
He ran his boat for a year or NOR
up and down the "Bogue," and bot
he and Martin occasionally carried col
ton to the Forks of the Bogue,' tn
usual point to the river. Capt. Levi
died, and his boat was broken W
Neither enterprise could succeed, bt
cause at neither end of their route wa
there any means to get to the river c,
cept by wagons.
But at that time there were but fe'
settlements ON the Bogue, but the'
efforts showed what could be dor
with proper enterprise and lit
money.
The "Forks of the Bogue" is on
about nine miles south of Concord
and in 1880 q charter was obtained
build railroad, from that point
some point on the Sunfower river
company was organized and | had Il
| honor to be elected president. | cal
!. say that ever got much salary or pa
D ment from the office.